6 Graceful Photos of Rookie of the Year Nicole Williams English in Dominica

The model, mom and designer posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue while seven months pregnant.

Cara O’Bleness | Jan 12, 2024

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Nicole Williams English’s journey to the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue was an incredible one. After being named the first rookie for last year’s issue, she and her husband, Larry English, announced their pregnancy on the Miami Swim Week runway together in July ’22.

The Canadian model, fashion designer and entrepreneur then traveled to Dominica with photographer Yu Tsai to pose for the annual issue while seven months pregnant. She also walked the 2023 Miami Swim Week runway last July with her newborn daughter, India Moon, in her arms for an incredibly full-circle moment.

Her truly ethereal feature earned her Rookie of the Year honors, and the 40-year-old was surprised with the exciting news by editor in chief MJ Day in December.

“I cannot believe that I am the 2023 Rookie of the Year,” Williams English stated of the honor. “I can’t believe I’m saying that, honestly, this ride just keeps getting better and better and better. I’m sure if you guys have been following me, you guys know that being in Sports Illustrated, even just being a rookie, gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated, being amongst all those iconic, beautiful amazing, strong women ... This has been my ultimate goal throughout my whole career. This is why I started, this is where I wanted to be, this was my biggest dream, and that I’m living out my dream right now is just blowing my mind. I don’t even have words.”

Below are just a few of our favorite photos from Williams English’s photoshoot in Dominica.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by DU CIEL. Dress by Ezili Swim.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by DU CIEL. Dress by Elizabeth Shevelev.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit top by DU CIEL. Swimsuit bottom by Tia Adeola.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit top by MilkBaby Bikini. Swimsuit bottom by Vitamin A.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by DU CIEL. Dress by Ezili Swim.

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Published Jan 12, 2024

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, O’Bleness loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.